Good news is here for many Social Security beneficiaries in the United States. A new change in the law, passed by Congress in January 2025, will now allow some people to receive higher monthly payments—and even extra money they missed in the past.
This new rule is part of the Social Security Fairness Act, which cancels out two older rules that had reduced payments for millions of public sector workers. Let’s break down what this means, who qualifies, and how the payments are being made in April 2025.
What Changed in 2025?
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) were rules that reduced Social Security benefits for people who had public pensions, like teachers, firefighters, or government workers. These rules affected people who had jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security but also had other covered work.
Many Americans lost a lot of money because of WEP and GPO. Now, with the Social Security Fairness Act, these rules have been partially removed, and qualifying beneficiaries will now receive higher monthly benefits.
The best part? The law also allows retroactive payments back to January 2023—which means if you were affected by WEP or GPO and are eligible, you could receive a large one-time payment.
Who Will Get the Retroactive Payments?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) says that as of now, 2.3 million cases have already been processed, which is about 75% of the total. The rest are still being reviewed.
So far, the following groups may be eligible:
- Teachers
- Firefighters
- Federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
- Retirees with foreign pensions
But not all government workers qualify. According to the SSA, about 72% of public employees already contribute to Social Security and were not affected by WEP or GPO.
If you’re eligible, you should have received a letter by mail informing you of the increase. Some people may even have received their extra payment before receiving the official letter.
How Much Can You Expect?
Some people might see over $1,000 in retroactive payments. And starting this April, monthly checks will be higher. The maximum Social Security benefit in 2025 is $5,108 per month, but only for those who delayed retirement and had high lifetime earnings.
The actual increase will depend on your case, how long you were affected by WEP or GPO, and your past income. Payments might take time to show up, as the SSA is still processing hundreds of thousands of cases.
April 2025 Social Security Payment Schedule
The regular payment dates for April follow the usual schedule, based on your birth date:
- April 9: For people born between the 1st and 10th
- April 16: For people born between the 11th and 20th
- April 23: For people born between the 21st and 31st
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you would have received only one payment in April. But in May 2025, there will be two SSI payments—one on May 1 and another on May 30.
The SSA recommends checking with your bank first if there are any delays. If needed, you can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office for help.
